WASHINGTON AQUATIC PERMITS

The Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application, commonly called JARPA, helps applicants provide shared project information to multiple Washington aquatic-resource reviewers. It is a coordination tool, not a single permit.

Open the official JARPA resources

Use the WCI permit checklist

What JARPA does

JARPA collects a common project description, location information, drawings, quantities, methods, and environmental details that may be used by agencies reviewing work in or near water. Depending on the project, copies or related information may support local shoreline review, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Hydraulic Project Approval, Washington Department of Natural Resources aquatic-land authorization, Washington Department of Ecology review, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization.

Submitting JARPA does not automatically apply for every possible approval. The owner and project team must still identify the correct reviewers, supplemental forms, fees, public-notice requirements, and electronic submission methods.

Information commonly needed before starting

Applicant, property owner, agent, and authorized contact information.
Site address, parcel number, latitude and longitude, waterbody, city or county, and directions.
Project purpose and need, including whether work is repair, replacement, expansion, new construction, stabilization, dredging, or restoration.
Existing conditions and previous permits.
Permanent and temporary impacts by area, volume, length, number of piles, and material type.
Construction sequence, equipment, access, staging, demolition, disposal, and anticipated work duration.
Proposed mitigation, restoration, and impact-avoidance measures.
Plan, profile, cross-section, detail drawings, photographs, and vicinity maps.

Drawings must match the written application

Review delays often begin when dimensions, pile counts, overwater area, fill quantities, dredging volumes, or construction methods differ between the narrative and plans. Use one controlled set of numbers. Label existing, proposed, removed, and temporary work. Show ordinary high water, property lines, access, staging, habitat boundaries, and the waterward extent of work when applicable.

Environmental attachments

Site-specific attachments may include a habitat report, Biological Evaluation or Biological Assessment, wetland delineation, eelgrass or kelp survey, forage-fish information, shoreline or geotechnical analysis, cultural-resource information, mitigation plan, restoration planting, or water-quality measures. Seasonal surveys can affect the project schedule, so identify them early.

A practical JARPA workflow

Define the project purpose and site constraints.
Confirm the likely local, state, and federal reviewers.
Complete surveys and environmental screening.
Develop a permit-level concept with consistent quantities and methods.
Coordinate constructability, access, work windows, and staging before finalizing the application.
Prepare JARPA, drawings, supplements, and supporting reports.
Submit through each required agency process and track requests for additional information.
Carry every approval condition into the final construction package.

Questions owners should ask

Who is responsible for the master project description and controlled drawing set?
Which agencies require separate applications, online portals, fees, or signatures?
Are any surveys seasonal?
Will design changes require revised biological analysis?
Are the construction methods described in the application actually feasible from the site or water?
Who will maintain the permit-condition matrix after approvals?

Related WCI guides

This guide is educational and does not replace current agency instructions or professional advice. Confirm the correct forms and submission process with each reviewing agency.

JARPA Application Guide for Waterfront Projects